7 4 
they then walk twice round the cattle which are 
destined for the sacrifice, make the children lie a little 
on their backs, and touch with their left hand the 
right horn of each ox or bull, which lie on the ground, 
with their feet tied, ready to be immolated. The 
ceremony is performed in silence, it being esteemed 
holy and sacred by every individual; but when it is 
over, the thatch is stripped from the toak-house, and 
the bulls and oxen are slaughtered for the entertain¬ 
ment of the visitors. Before the men begin to drink, 
their weapons are taken from them for fear of acci¬ 
dents, and the most noisy, riotous mirth continues 
till the liquor is expended, or intoxication has ren¬ 
dered the company incapable of further exertion. 
But the most horrid and execrable feature in their 
ritual, remains to be related ; the observance of which 
can only be accounted for on the general principle, 
that man, when left to the dictates of natural reason, 
is liable to fall into the most dreadful errors. A 
revelation from God was absolutely necessary to 
remedy this, and to preserve mankind, not only from 
the commission of those acts against which reason and 
conscience cry out; but also from carrying even 
their devotional feelings to excess,—from suffering 
those fears, which are excited by the erroneous view 
that misguided reason takes of the attributes and 
perfections of Deity, so far to overcome the judgment, 
as to suggest the necessity of the most unnatural 
sacrifices, in order to expiate transgression, and ap¬ 
pease the anger of God. Thus, when under their 
